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Archived Monastery
Happenings
September 2009
American Benedictine Formation Conference
Sisters of Annunciation Monastery Welcome
ABFC Core
Planning Team Members
(Standing, lt. to rt: Sisters Agatha Muggli, Rita Dohn,
Mary Catherine Holicky.
Seated: Srs. Rose Wildeman, Bobbie Bussan)
Sister Agatha Muggli hosted core team members of the
American Benedictine Formation Conference Sept. 20-23. This
executive committee is made up of sisters who serve as
formation directors within their religious communites. In
addition, they do the "business" for the organization,
coordinating annual programs supporting women in initial
formation and directors of formation.
During this blessed time together, the sisters reviewed
programs that were implemented throughout the past year and
plan upcoming events. At a glance, these programs include
the biannual conference and the Novice And Director
Institute (NADI). NADI is a two-week experience for novices
and directors. The Benedictine Spirituality Workshop
and Retreat (BSWR) is another annual program. This
three-week program is for women discerning perpetual
monastic profession. It includes a directed retreat offering
a unique opportunity to reflect on Benedictine life. BSWR
will be held at Annunciation Monastery in 2010.
The Sisters of Annunciation Monastery were happy to host
this meeting and are praying for the members serving on the
core team, as well as all women in various stages of initial
formation!
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Congratulations, Sister Nancy!
Sister Nancy
Gunderson’s art was featured in the First Presbyterian Fine
Arts Festival “Celebrating Creation on the Prairie” in
September. This event has been in existence for over 20
years and featured over 300 exhibitors. Festival activities
included a juried art exhibit, coffee house, high tea,
special music performances and artist demonstrations. Sister
Nancy's art quilt, "Trinity," was awarded the Nellie
Solberg Memorial Award.
Here is her
artist's explanation of her piece, "I started the
piece on an early Spring day when I was longing for green
and life to pop out. I noticed that birds were building
nests before trees were really leafed out so the nests were
quite easily seen. Since the nest has three eggs, I call the
piece "Trinity." It is a whole meditation on the freshness
of God's life and an abundance of life waiting to fill us."
* * * * *
Sisters Visit With Students at
University of Mary's Involvement Day
Rosemary DeGracia, Sisters Gerard Wald, Gemma
Peters, Agatha Muggli and Hannah Vanorny and a student
"chicken" inviting students to become involved with Campus
Ministry, alongside Sister Kathleen Atkinson.
Sister Kathleen and Sister Nicole with two
University of Mary students.
Annunciation Monastery sisters greeted University of Mary
students at this week's "Involvement Fair," informing them
about spiritual enrichment opportunities, inviting them to
visit Annunciation Monastery and join the sisters for prayer
or game night. Students were also encouraged to sign
up for a sister friend (a sister who will pray for them,
visit with them, and support them in their
school/personal/faith journey).
* * * * *
A Prayerful Evening Celebrating Father
James Patrick Shea
What a blessing it was to share evening prayer with new
University of Mary President, Father James Patrick Shea.
The sisters extended a blessing and many heartfelt greetings
as all shared a special meal of celebration.
Sisters extend their hands in a blessing for
Father Shea.
Each sister welcomed Father Shea as they
exited evening prayer.
Father Shea shares a laugh with Sister Miriam
Schmitt.
Father Shea with Sister Rebecca Mayer, Sister
Thomas Welder (far right).
Prioress Sister Nancy Miller presented Father
Shea with a print of the Annunciation icon.
The following is a reflection from Prioress Sister Nancy
Miller:
Again it
is my pleasure to welcome you Father Shea and all of us as
we begin the week celebrating the University of Mary
President’s Inauguration. Indeed we are pleased that this
dinner we are sharing tonight is the first of many inaugural
events. We know that much effort and planning has gone into
this week’s activities. We pray for their success and that
our message of servant leadership and Benedictine values
touches the hearts of those who attend. We pray for you as
well Father Shea. Your position as President is an
important one and we know that there will be difficult times
as well as wonderful times. You can count on our support
through all of it.
As
founders and sponsors of the University of Mary, we are
grateful for what the University has become over the past
fifty years and we look forward to continuing the efforts of
furthering the mission of Jesus, the Servant Leader through
Benedictine higher education. We know and acknowledge that
the University of Mary has been a work of collaboration with
others since the very beginning. That tradition still holds
true today and I am certain will continue for many years to
come.
Father
Shea, yes, you are the President of the University of Mary,
but most importantly, you have joined a community. As we
welcome you into the University of Mary community, we want
to take time to share who we are with each other. We look
forward to strengthening the firm foundation of our
relationship. And that foundation is built with Christ at
the center. I speak for all of us in this room tonight – we
look forward to knowing you better and you knowing us as a
monastic community.
Earlier
at evening prayer, we read chapter 72 of the Rule of St.
Benedict. This particular chapter sums up the whole of
community life. It has some striking statements that cause
one to pause and take notice. It is about relationships
with one another. It is about reverence for one another and
offering hospitality to all. It is an extending of
ourselves towards the other. And through it all our common
goal is to seek God.
Today’s
Gospel calls us to do just that. We are called to take up
our cross and follow Christ. We do that when we live what
Chapter 72 says: “No one is to pursue what they judge better
for themselves, but instead, what they judge to be better
for someone else.” It bears repeating the words of Sister
Aquinata Bockmann, “Placing the other person in the center
as Christ did, is evidence of preferring nothing to Christ.
It is a way of following Christ.” At times, we (I), like
Peter tend to resist this. But if we remain faithful to our
call, we keep working on finding the path and we recommit
ourselves over and over to following the way of Christ. It
is an integral part of our conversion that happens day after
day.
Our
ministry of sponsorship really is all about relationships
and gathering behind a common goal. We cannot do it alone,
nor do we want to. We do believe that our Benedictine
tradition, mission and values have a place in today’s
world. We are called to share our tradition, mission and
values as one way of furthering the mission of Jesus.
Father
Shea – you consider your role as President as a call. Thank
you for being attentive to that call. All of us are
familiar to what it means to be called by God – by way of
monastic life, priesthood, leadership in various ways, - and
following through with commitment and the grace of God.
Mary is our example of following a call – the call to be the
Mother of God.
An icon
of the Annunciation is displayed prominently in the foyer of
our monastery. It has meaning for us on many different
levels. On one level it is a constant reminder that one can
respond to God’s call and remain faithful to that call
through the ups and downs of life. Tonight we give to you,
Father Shea, a framed print of that Icon of the
Annunciation. May it remind you of your call to faithful
servant leadership. May it remind you of our prayer and
support of you as together we go forward with gospel values
and our long Benedictine heritage to guide us.
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